Polishing Services

So one of the services we have begun to offer is polishing.  We are constantly being complemented on the level of care we take in doing one of the jobs everyone hates to do.  Our customers very often want a slick polish on engine compensates or even full engines.  We can do it.  It is only limited y your pocket book.  Here is an example of what we can do...this is a 1980 Suzuki GS850 that we recently began as a custom project.  Ol' Kimmi was looking a little rough around the edges when we got her.  We are in the process of doing a resto mod on her.  As you can see from the pics the engine is not done but is starting to come together...hit us up if you need some polishing done...rates are our flat $75/hour with most 4 piece engine covers being done in about 3-4 hours (that's the stator cover, sprocket cover, clutch cover, and points cover, shipping not included).

It's Been a While....

A few pics of the CB550 project....

MOTOBLOT 2015

THURSDAY:
Thursday started with a pig roast in the backyard of The Isle of Man a motorcycle boutique in Chicago.  My contact for Motoblot in Chicago and key figure in the planning of the event, Adam Doyle began with more than generous introductions to the staff, volunteers and key figures in the Chicago scene...I was beyond flattered and honored to be welcomed by all.  The Isle of Man was a very cool hip kinda place that sells high end motorcycle lifestyle gear for the most stylish of the hipster set.  The pig was very well smoked and tender (kudos to the chef for such a finely prepared cloven hoofed mammal).  I soon realized that Chicago had an open container law as I walked out to the streets with a beverage in my hand and was stopped at the door and told I had to leave it before departing for the next event that night.  As most of you know Louisville, where I am from also has an open container law stating...and I quote "Those in position of an open container must have it open....failure to do so is punishable by public ridicule from those present at such an offence."

As the Isle of Man party began to wain the second act of the night moved to Martyr's across the street.  The two scenes were quite striking.  While the Isle of Man was refined and upscale Martyr's proved to be a pychobilly breakdown. Gas House Gorillas and Wreckin' Ball kept it hard and fast the rest of the night.  Between the sets though was a Burlesque show from Original Tease.  The whole Motoblot staff kept everything rolling smoothly with Paul from Progressive Insurance (a major sponsor of the event) MC'ed.  Many bikes were lined up outside with a very nice bike from Analog and The Ton Up boys lining up a gaggle of British Iron.

THE HOTEL INCIDENT

First let me say that the hotel staff was friendly and helpful.  The rooms were dated but very clean.  I understand now that I may not have been in the most desirable end of town but upon returning to the place I pulled up to the parking lot crawling with cops.  The police stopped me from entering the parking lot...apparently they had gotten information that some global mastermind bent on the destruction of the planet and all it's inhabitants where there that night.  Puzzled by this turn of events I parked the van and proceded to consume my two chili dogs with cheese that I had obtained from Ronald's Famous Hot Dogs on my way back from the night's festivities. I later found out that the police had found what appeared to be a briefcase belonging to one M. Wallace.

FRIDAY

This story actually started on Tuesday.  I had just finished my expansion chambers for the GT250 was so excited about getting my knees in the breeze that I took off from the house with reckless abandon.  The bike was having a bit of an idling problem but who cares when you have it pegged at nine grand.  I was finally ripping around the back roads around my house with not a care in the world until I turned for home.  Then the bike stalled and would not start again.  Now those of you from the Ohio Valley know what the weather is like here in the middle of summer....very hot and humid.  My little home based shop is not air conditioned so to keep cool I tend to not work in OSHA approved clothing (in my defense I no longer weld in flip flops...I work in penny loafers).  So on this hot humid day in June I find myself wearing said loafers and swim trunks 2 miles from my house pushing the GT home with only corn and cows to bear witness.  This death march was well deserved because I had gotten shitty with my wife earlier in the day and Karma owed me one.  Upon returning to the house after hallucination inspired by dehydration and bordering on heat stroke my wife observed the shell of a man who had left 2 hours before.  That night Croucher and I had a late night session in the shop and determined after much analyze that the crank seal had let loose.  So Friday found me searching Chicago in a quest for the holy grail....1974 Suzuki GT250 crank seals.

Not realizing that these were made of Unoptainium I set off on my quest.  Now I had gotten a lead on some parts from Adam Doyle who gave me the number of  a guy named Murray.  Murray, I was told was the 2 stroke kingpin of Chicago.   We talked on the phone for about half an hour.  He didn't have the parts, he focused more on Yamaha's than anything else.  After asking him if he  knew of any other places in town he gave me the name of Motorcycle Mania.  Adam had also given me thier contact info so I decided to pay them a visit.  After driving 8 miles in 45 minutes I began to understand why people hate driving in Chicago.  When I pulled up I thought these guy have to have the parts I needed because as soon I walked through the door I could smell two strokes.  In the front sat a 1973 Yamaha CS3 200.  After selling mine just a year earlier I was a bit misty eyes.  After getting past security (one of the owners daughter) I met with  Angel and Jerimiah.  They were two of the best guys you could ever hope to meet.  I was treated like a long lost brother by them the whole weekend.  Upon entering the workshop I spotter the bike.  A GT500.  I was in the right place!  After chatting with them for a bit and offering to build expansion chambers for the bike I asked for the parts needed for my hotel room rebuild of the 250.  After searching high and low we came up with GT500  crank seals but nothing for the 250.  It would have been frustrating if I had gotten there and they didn't have the parts and they had been assholes, but the trip was a true highlight of the my weekend.  Thanks fellas and please let me know if you ever need anything.

Storm clouds began to filter in and rain began to fall so I huddled into a pub called Half Acre.  The beers were amazing and I would highly recommend it to anyone.  There I began to ask around about other bike shops in the area, and Motorworks Chicago came up.  Looks like I was on the hunt again.  After finally reaching Motorworks I walked into an amazing showroom and a friendly staff that didn't have the parts I needed but were none the less very friendly.  I drooled over the Ducati Scrambler with a side of coffee....



Friday night found me at the cobra lounge for the next set of band to take the stage for Motoblot.  After getting rained on all day some nerves were frayed but after a few cocktails none of it mattered....

on the move

So as we have begun to get more and more requests and interest in what we have been doing we have begun to thinking about expanding.  As always we are a small home based business with our hand into everything that has to do with speed.  With our expansion into the two stroke market we are hoping to focus efforts in on producing the fastest most reliable machines possible.  We will keep you updated on the search for a new location and post it as soon as we finalize things.

New expansion chambers are takings shape

Here are a few pics of the expansion chambers I'm building for the GT...I was never happy with the first ones I built so these are the result of my recent efforts...they are not done yet, but should be done and coated with ceramic by the end of the month...enjoy

Moving slow

I'm in a new frame of mind lately...I've decided that I'm not getting in a hurry anymore and that I will take my time building bikes.  I keep putting these deadlines on myself and had begun to loose the  passion of what I was doing. The winter came along at just the right time.  As many know I'm a very enthusitic snowboarder.  So taking a break from building was what I needed.  While most builders are working overtime trying to finish projects I'm out shredding.  So come spring I'm normally 3 months behind everyone else on getting shit built.  Well this year I'm not falling into the trap of trying to make up for lost time.  I'm just going to kick back work on my own bike for a change and ride it after it's perfect.  If I bring a bike to Motoblot,GREAT, if not GREAT!....I'm through with rushing around....trying to out build others or comprise my principles

Tying Up Loose Ends

It's been a while since I posted last...that could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your perspective...fore it's been a good thing.  I took the month of October off...for a small builder like me with low overhead and flexibility this is just what I needed to get to the juices flowing again.  After the completion of Veruca I was a bit burned out.  Now with renewed energy I'm back at it.  I have been going back and forth with the seat on my personal bike (the Duce) for a while and finally go around to doing what I wanted...I think it still needs a bit of tweaking but a bike is never done til you sell it...Veruca is up on the stand now ironing out a few bugs...this is not uncommon for custom builds, and with as much customization done to Veruca she will take some time to get her where I want her...the next bike coming up this month is the XS1100...by far my biggest bike I've ever built but with my recent string of 350 fours that have been coming across the lift I'm feeling ready for this beast...the RM 80ish ;0) is running like a top and has made many a loop around the neighborhood to keep it's 110 CCs pounding away all winter...for my late winter early spring I have another 350 four project (or two) in the works...things are heating up and with the start of snowboard season right around the corner I've got my hands full...